Poke, Poke. OOOOOUCH!

Today was Botox day.
          Yet again.

Jocie seemed in good spirits. :)

(My freshly bathed, curly-headed princess!)

For the most part we are pretty use to the routine of everything that goes into getting Botox, and we don't get too worked up much anymore.

Up early. Today, it was 4am.
Coffee. Shower. Get Ready. Eat.
Wake Jocie. {IF she is not already up. Today? She was SLEEPING IN! OOOooooh the irony!}
Give meds. Give breathing treatments. Flush tube.
Bath. Dress Boogie.
Ensure extra outfit packed. Have Wallet. Snacks. Drinks.
Load car with wheelchair. Computer. Books. Blanky ... the kitchen sink.

          Check, check and quadruple CHECK!

We drive the approximate hour to Shawnee Mission Hospital.
Check-in, wait, do the normal routine with the nurses.
Get asked a bazillion questions.
Vitals.
Sleepy meds given {Versed is our friend}.
They take her back, really knock her out, poke the crap out of her little body & off to recovery.
Drive the hour home.
Eat.
Naps.

That about sums it up! :s

This time around she received about 30 injections. This is probably the fewest amount she's ever received. Thankful for the "break."

Because of the muscles groups that were chosen, we will probably have the following negative side effects:

1. Head drop - because of injecting the paraspinous
2. Difficulty with trunk control - because of injecting the pectoralis major muscles & paraspinous
3. Difficulty grasping - because of injecting the flexor longus muscles
4. Difficulty standing - because of injecting the multifidus, IT band, adductors & gastrocsoleous

Does that sound like a good time?

NOT SO MUCH!!!!

 

A person might wonder why we even bother if these things could happen, which they usually do, but the negative effects are temporary, although extremely frustrating. We get the Botox to prevent the contracted muscles from causing permanent damage/deformities, and to allow the opposing muscle that are being prevented from working correctly, a chance to become stronger.

 

Its a hard game of tug-a-war to find the right muscle or right muscle combo, the right dose, the right time, etc.

 

Not sure if its because we are now having to pay out of pocket to continue to specifically see Dr. Gupta, but he was exceptionally friendly today. He's always a talker, but doesn't always focus on what WE are concerned with ... big difference.

 

Today he was excited with Jocelyn's progress {I thought he was about to burst into song}, eager to talk about her vibration therapy, encouraged us to have Jocelyn seen by a Chiropractic over the summer, adding fish oil to her diet to reduce global inflammation {we use to give it daily but stopped to reduce calories}, and even talked about Tai Chi.

 

Yes, you read that right. He started talking about Tai Chi. Do yooooou know of a surgeon that has this kind of time, or makes this kind of time, to talk about all these things? I sure don't ... well, I mean besides Dr. Gupta. Anyways, he started talking about how in about 3 years or so, he wanted me to take classes and start teaching Jocelyn how to do Tai Chi.

 

Huh? He's kidding right?? haha

 

He talked about how Tai Chi has three components or aspects to it: as a martial art for self-defense, as a vehicle for meditation and for basic health. Obviously his focus was on health. He said he wanted Jocelyn to learn Tai Chi to train her body, integrate her brain, increase balance, flexibility and coordination.

 

Uhm, yeeeeeaaaaa ... about that.

 

Okay, I know what he's saying, and I have no doubts that it would be awesome to be able to teach her that and everything, but I can barely get Jocelyn to hold a crayon and color right now. Tai Chi?? WHAT?!?!

 

But anyways, the procedure went wonderfully and the hard part ... recovery? ... it was equally as good. Sometimes that's the worse part of it all with being disoriented and hurting from the injections and IV's.

 

Here's a recap of Jocelyn's morning through pictures.

(Hyped up when we first got there. This is her warrior ninja face! She aint skeeerd!! She literally CRACKS.ME.UP.DAILY!!!!)

(First 10 minutes after Versed was given. Apparently socks do not belong on your feet.)

(5 minutes later -- Nothing is interesting -- Leave me alone)

(She said FINALLY! Lights out, warm blanket given, calming music playing & time for a nap)

After the procedure, an extra nurse volunteered to soothe and comfort Jocelyn. This is how I found them once I was called back into PACU.

I gave the nurse a little snuggle time, but then mama most definitely had to take over. :) 

 Had to give those healing mama kisses. Its the nicer way to wake up.

She sure is the sweetest.



We didn't have to spend too terribly long in recovery, and then we headed home. Jocie finally got to eat around 1pm, down for a nap by 2pm and still sleeping. I too should've taken a nap, but I actually have some energy. Not enough energy to workout, but to blog? I have enough energy for that haha.